Phipps Conservatory to hold outdoor dinner featuring local foods

The Outdoor Garden at Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will be the setting for Garden Variety: A Farm to Phipps Dinner.
Paul G. Wiegman

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is savoring the best of the season at a brand-new event to be held in the Outdoor Garden. Against this romantic backdrop, Garden Variety: A Farm to Phipps Dinner, a local food adventure, will be held from 6:30–9 p.m. July 21.

Presented by Café Phipps Executive Chef Stephanie Gelberd and some of the region’s finest food artisans and producers, the multiple-course dinner will be served in the open air and highlights the freshest hand-picked selections from local farms. The menu, which includes vegan and allergen-free options, features savory and sweet dishes from Phipps-grown heirloom tomatoes stuffed with varietal gazpacho, and handcrafted ravioli with local mushrooms and cashew cream to candied braised short ribs with roasted local corn and lemon custard tarts with lavender cream. Local wine pairings from Burch Farms Country Market and Winery will complement select courses.

Chris Brenckle from Brenckle’s Farm and Greenhouse and Nathan Holmes from Clarion River Organics will also be in attendance to talk about their passion for growing the foods we love to eat.

Cost to attend is $150 for Phipps members and $175 for nonmembers, and includes the meal, selected wine pairings and service. Registration is required by July 12.